Control for electric blenders



Nov. 29, 1966 R. L. SWANKE 3,288,953

CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC BLENDE-RS Filed May 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIMER INVENTOR ROY L. SWAN KE Nov. 29, 1966 R. L. SWANKE CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC BLENDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26,. 1966 INVENTOR E K m W S L O R United States Patent 3,288,953 CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC BLENDERS Roy L. Swanke, Newington, Conn., assignor to Dynamics Corporation of America, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 26, 1966, Ser. No. 553,143 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-455) This invention relates generally to an automatic control for an electric blender and more specifically to a time control coupled with a rotary switch for use with such a device.

Although electric blender-s are in common usage today, one of the drawbacks of such blenders is the inability to control time of operation relative to blending when such operation must take place in a matter of seconds.

In an application entitled Electric Blenders, Serial No. 376,804, filed June 22, 1964, and assigned to the present assignee, there is disclosed a blender with a timer including a specific showing of a push button control coupled with the timer. This particular application discusses many of the added features provided by the use of an exact timing mechanism for a blender, and reference is hereby made to such application.

The object of the present invention is to provide a modified type of blender wherein a rotary switch may be coupled to a timer so as to provide an exact timing operation of the blender at either high or low speeds.

This and other objects will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of base incorporation the motor, timer and rotary on-oif switch combination of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view of the blender with the base plate removed;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view through the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuitry of the blender.

Turning now more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of a base 11 extending outwardly at one portion thereof with a terminating front face member 13. The base is provided with an upper platform upon which a jar support member 15 rests and includes upstanding finger members 17 for supporting a blender jar (not shown). Coupling member 19 is driven by the motor shaft whereby the mating coupling of the blade in the jar may join therewith.

Two controls appear on the front face of the blender. A rotary on-oif switch 21 is shown as rotatbale in opposite directions from the off position to attain either the low or high speed motor operation. The timer consists of a rotary disc 23 having a knob 24 thereon which indicates the position of the rotary disc with respect to the indicia as shown on the front face of the blender. In the present instance the indicia indicate the time in seconds.

FIGS. 2 through 4 show the details of the timing mechanism and coupling connection to the on-otf switch. The basic timer may be similar to that shown in US. Patent No. 2,274,665 issued to M. H. Rhodes. Some modifications have been made in the timer as will become evident from the following description. However, the above patent is referenced to show all the basic gearing which in some cases is not shown in the present drawings for the purpose of clarity.

A plate 29 is secured to the inner face of the blender for supporting the major timing mechanism. Support member 31 extends upwardly from plate 29 and carries the electric switch terminals for the lead connections to the timing mechanism. A U-shaped switch arm 35 extends outwardly from the switch 33 and encloses a pin 37, the movement of which is controlled by camming plates 38 driven by spring 45 of the timing device. As may be seen, this pin is mounted on a lever 39 which is pivoted by a bolt member 41 at the outer edge of the plate 29. As the carnming plates 38 rotate, they control the position of pin 40 extending upwardly midway from the end of the lever 39. In this way the camming plates either maintain the switch in a closed position relative to the terminals of switch 33 as shown in FIG. 2 or in an open position which rotates the U-shaped switch arm clockwise so as to close the contacts of electrical switch 33.

A spring 43 is connected between a downwardly extending leg of plate 39 and tends to bias the plate into the off position when it is not influenced by any other mechanism.

Timer 25 is also provided with a flywheel47 and associated spring 49 having a finger type end portion 51 which mates with the flywheel so as to prevent the timer from turning. When the switch is in the on position, the downwardly extending leg 50 of the pivoted plate 39 forces the finger member 51 outwardly away from the flywheel, thus allowing it to rotate. Therefore, it will be seen that the pivoted lever 39 simultaneously controls the connection between the terminals of switch 33 and also the movability of the flywheel 47 through the spring 49.

In order to provide a means whereby the timer will not operate unless the switch is in the high or low position, a rigid arm 57 is bent at an angle as shown and extends outwardly from the main shaft on the on-oif switch 27 and terminates in a hook end 59. A second rigid arm 63, which also terminates in a hook end 61, is mated with hook 59 so as to provide a movable joint member. The other end of the arm 63 is hooked onto a toggle arm 65 which is pivoted at point 67. The far end of the toggle arm terminates in a finger 69 which engages the flywheel 47 and is held in engagement by spring 71 so as to prevent rotation of the flywheel when swicth 27 is in the off position. It will be seen from the arrangement thus described that rotation of the shaft 53 in either direction will cause movement of the toggle arm so as to lift the finger away from the escapement wheel.

Accordingly, as long as the switch is in the off position, the timer may be rotated to the desired setting and will remain there until the switch is either turned to the high or low speed operation at which time the finger 69 will allow movement of the escapement wheel as will the finger 51. When the timing operation is complete, the finger 51 is allowed to move back into engagement with the escapement wheel under the bias of spring 49, and the circuit between the terminals of switch 33 is opened and the motor ceases operation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the connections between the motor 73 and the timer 25. Basically, the motor, the on-oif switch 27 and the timer 25 are connected in series between the input terminals from the source of power supply. Both the timer contacts and either the high or low contact of the on-oif switch must be closed before the motor will operate. Also shown schematically is the coupling 63 between the switch and the timer. It is to be understood that some of the basic components as described above, such as the timer, may be varied somewhat without departing from the scope of the invention and that limitations are only to be assumed from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a blending device, automatic control apparatus for said device comprising,

an electric motor,

a rotatable switch having an 01f position and a plurality of on positions,

a manually settable timing mechanism including a spring drive motor, and electrical contacts mechanically coupled to said spring drive motor,

circuit means for connecting said motor, said rotatable switch and said timing mechanism in series, said timing mechanism closing said electrical contacts when said mechanism is operative, a rigid link secured to the shaft of said rotatable switch, an arm rotatably secured to said switch and movable into a position to lock said timing mechanism, and means coupling said arm to said rigid link, said link moving said arm into said positon to lock said timing mechanism when said switch is in said off position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising spring means biasing said rotatable arm away from said locked position when said switch is in an on position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

G. MAIER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BLENDING DEVICE, AUTOMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, A ROTATABLE SWITCH HAVING AN OFF POSITION AND A PLURALITY OF ON POSITIONS, A MANUALLY SETTABLE TIMING MECHANISM INCLUDING A SPRING DRIVE MOTOR, AND ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID SPRING DRIVE MOTOR, CIRCUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID MOTOR, SAID ROTATABLE SWITCH AND SAID TIMING MECHANISM IN SERIES, SAID TIMING MECHANISM CLOSING SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHEN SAID MECHANISM IS OPERATIVE, 